SPMH Screens Silent Film BUSTER KEATON IN STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. in Cincinnati Today

The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) presents its first silent film - Buster Keaton in Steamboat Bill, Jr., featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer and acclaimed theatre organist Clark Wilson - at Cincinnati's Music Hall Ballroom today, May 9 at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The event is being presented in cooperation with the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Organ Society.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center or Music Hall Ticket Office. For groups of ten or more, call (513) 977-4157.

Music Hall Ballroom's Mighty Wurlitzer accompanies Buster Keaton in his acclaimed 1928 feature-length comedy silent movie, considered by many film critics as a masterpiece of its era. Originally installed in the ornate Albee Theater on Fountain Square in December 1927, The Mighty Wurlitzer was one of only 2,200 theatre-organs produced at that time to accompany silent feature films. Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience The Mighty Wurlitzer as it was meant to be heard - as a live soundtrack for the world's first movies! FREE POPCORN will be available for munching during the movie.

"Nearly one hundred years ago, The Mighty Wurlitzer was born right here in Cincinnati as a 'one man orchestra' to accompany silent movies," said Don Siekmann, SPMH President. "We are thrilled to bring our beloved Mighty Wurlitzer back to its original life, as it was meant to be heard, featuring one of the nation's finest silent film accompanists, Clark Wilson, the timeless comedy of Buster Keaton, and free popcorn for everyone!"

Buster Keaton is one of the most honored actors, directors, and filmmakers in history. He is best remembered for his work in silent films, his unique brand of physical comedy, and his deadpan expressions that earned him the nickname "The Great Stone Face."

Steamboat Bill Jr. is a 1928 feature-length comedy silent film co-written by and starring Keaton. Released by United Artists, the film is the last product of Keaton's independent production team and set of gag writers and was the last picture Keaton would make for United Artists before moving on to MGM. In one of the film's most iconic moments, a cyclone causes a building façade to fall around Keaton's character, which his still regarded as one of his best-known stunts. Steamboat Bill, Jr. is regarded as a masterpiece of its era and was included in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. The film inspired the title of Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie (1928), which featured the historic debut of Mickey Mouse.

The Mighty Wurlitzer was installed in the ornate Albee Theater on Fountain Square in December 1927 - one of only 2,200 theatre-organs produced at that time to accompany silent feature films. When talkies took over in 1929, the theatre organ was mainly silenced. The Albee organ was moved to the Emery Theatre in 1969 (where it played for movies and other events) and was partially rebuilt by the Ohio Valley Organ Club. It was removed from the Emery in 1999 and put into storage.

The leadership at SPMH thought the historic Music Hall Ballroom would be an ideal location for the instrument, and in June 2007, Ronald F. Wehmeier, Inc., Pipe Organ Service in Cincinnati was contacted to completely rebuild and install the Wurlitzer. A donor foundation funded the entire project in the amount of $1.41 million. Only a small number of Wurlitzers of this size still exist, and Cincinnati (the home of The Wurlitzer Company) is one of the few cities in the country to have an instrument of this quality.

The Wurlitzer was expanded in tonal colors and effects, from 19 ranks of pipes to 31 ranks (a rank is made up of 61 pipes, and represents orchestral sounds, such as trumpets, flutes, tubas, strings, etc.). A full array of percussion effects is also present - xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, chimes, and even a large Steinway grand - all playable from the giant three keyboard and pedal console, decorated in 22-karat gold leaf. Wind for the pipes is provided by a 15 HP high pressure turbine, the electrical switching is controlled by computer, and pipes range in size from 16 feet to the size of a pencil. In addition, the Wurlitzer is now fully computerized, so that it can be played without an organist through a digital input system.

Clark Wilson is one of the most prominent and recognized scorers of silent photoplays in America today. He works exclusively with the Organ in developing accurate and historic musical accompaniments as they were performed in major picture palaces during the heyday of the silent film era.

Wilson began his scoring career in 1980 and has successfully toured North America with hundreds of film presentations at schools and universities, performing arts centers, theatres, film festivals, and conventions. His work has led to performances for UCLA, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where, in addition to other pictures, he has re-premiered Wings for Paramount Studios' 100th Anniversary, the Atlanta premier of the restored Metropolis, and annual presentations at the Atlanta Fox Theatre and for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Society at the Walt Disney Concert Hall organ. He is the organist of choice for many of the American Theatre Organ Society's (ATOS) international convention silent film presentations, and his performances have received the highest marks from colleagues and professionals, one commenting that his was "the finest use of a theatre pipe organ that I have ever heard."

Clark has been organ conservator and Resident Organist at the Ohio Theatre for the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) since 1992. He is responsible for all music during CAPA's annual classic movie series, which features one or more major silent films each season. In addition, he has led courses in theatre organ styling and silent film accompaniment at the Indiana University School of Music, and he is heavily involved in the development of a similar degreed program at the University of Oklahoma, the first such program to exist since 1929. In addition to several articles published in Theatre Organ magazine, he has recently authored an article on film scoring for The American Organist magazine, the periodical of the American Guild of Organists.

Wilson has been named in numerous Who's Who and Men of Achievement editions and was presented with the ATOS Organist of the Year award in 1998. An acclaimed organ technician and consultant, he has also been professionally involved with over 200 pipe organ installations to date and has earned the ATOS Technician of Merit award, the only person to receive both ATOS distinctions. Visit Clark's website at www.clarkwilson.net.

The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) is a non-profit organization that provides ongoing financial and volunteer support toward maintaining and improving Cincinnati's historic Music Hall. SPMH members are volunteers from all walks of life who are dedicated to the continuing preservation of Music Hall as a national historic monument and promoting it as one of the world's foremost performing arts, entertainment and rental facilities.

Buster Keaton in Steamboat Bill, Jr. with the Mighty Wurlitzer featuring acclaimed theatre organist, Clark Wilson, will screen today, May 9, 2013 at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM at Music Hall Ballroom. Tickets: $25 / $20 (seniors, students, and groups of ten or more).

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